Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy

As women we don't all think alike, but that doesn't mean we can't do powerful work together. Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy is a multi-year initiative that brings women from diverse secular and religious backgrounds together for conversation and collaboration. Generously funded through a $600,000 grant from the Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas and the Dallas Women's Foundation, this initiative creates a space for women to explore the issues that bind us and those that divide us, and how we can accomplish positive change in our community.

140 women have been participating in roundtable discussion groups where they read, learn and share their personal experiences and the beliefs and traditions that have shaped them. As these groups develop a sense of authentic community, AWF will foster a growing dialogue on new ways to address social issues in Atlanta. The program also includes gatherings such as movie screenings with directed discussion, and guest speakers.

Upcoming Events:

Religions and Economic Justice for Women:

Feminist, Womanist, Secular, and Sacred Perspectives

Laurie L. Patton & Layli Phillips, Co-Facilitators

This series is a ten-week intensive class that will take place in two five-week sessions in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008.  We will examine collaboratively the problems and possibilities of the major world traditions for creating economic justice for women, generating a collection of our own inspired narratives in the process.  Our presentations will be conducted jointly with an activist in the field, joining the scholarly voice with a community voice.  Our presentations will be structured around the three-fold vision now central to the Atlanta Women’s Foundation: “Dignity, Hope, and Possibilities for all women and girls in Atlanta.”  The three wheels of this vision are 1) economic self-sufficiency, 2) leadership, and 3) engaged investment.  Economic self-sufficiency is further broken down into three important components, namely, a) economic security, b) mental/physical wellness, and c) social support networks.  The series will address each of these crucial themes.

As we consider each tradition, we will ask the following questions:

• What is a dignified economic situation for women?
• What are the hopes and visions for women’s economic empowerment?
• How do we open up and create new economic possibilities for women?
• How do economic security, mental/physical wellness, social support networks, leadership and engaged investment play themselves out in the narratives we consider?

We will begin the series by outlining some of the major issues confronting women in their quest for economic well-being: homelessness, violence against women, property and business ownership, lending practices, health care, and childcare.  We will also present an overview of feminism, womanism, and secularism as frameworks for thinking about these issues.  We will then examine several of the major world spiritual traditions in light of women and economic justice:  Native American spiritual traditions, Christian traditions, African and African-derived spiritual traditions, Islamic traditions, Jewish traditions, Hindu traditions, Buddhist traditions, and New Age spiritualities.  We will see how issues of economic justice for women “play themselves out” in each of these ways of thinking and being in the world.  In our explorations of these traditions, we will consider diverse critiques as well as variations within the spiritual/religious traditions.  We will end each session by utilizing a womanist perspective to synthesize insights and develop resources for action.

One concrete goal is to develop an interfaith collection of narratives, that is, powerful stories about women and economic justice rooted in different traditions that might serve as our guide as we move forward.  These narratives will integrate the sacred and the practical as we begin to clear ground upon which to build “Dignity, Hope, and Possibilities.”  In addition, each session will highlight a giving tradition unique to the spiritual tradition of each community.

Spring Schedule:

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008, 6-8pm – Judaism
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008, 6-8pm – Hinduism
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008, 6-8pm – Buddhism
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008, 6-8pm – New Age Spiritualities
Tuesday, March 11th, 2008, 6-8pm – Wrap-up

All sessions will be held at Hands On Atlanta located at 600 Means St., Suite 100, Atlanta, GA, 30318. 

For those riding MARTA, Hands On Atlanta is accessible via the #1 Coronet Way bus that leaves the Five Points station.  A light supper will be provided.  You are encouraged to attend all series sessions; however, it is possible to attend only a few. 

To reserve a space, submit a completed registration form to destinyfund@atlantawomen.org.

Click here to download a registration form.

The Faith, Feminism and Philanthropy Initiative is made possible by a grant from the Ruth Ray Hunt Memorial Fund.